Open Space write up (UK conference May-07)

Specific Topic Sharing good practice

 

Overarching question How do we sustainably expand and support the network of communities working on transition?

Proceedings

First of all, this session switched title from "Sharing best practice" to "Sharing good practice" in recognition that we can make progress without getting it all perfect.

  • People are too busy to use a website to gather "good practice"
  • Presenting "good practice" as a story makes it more flexible and easy to adopt/adapt. The story explains:
    • how you did it
    • what the challenges were
  • A regular communication from Transition Network would be a very useful vehicle for communicating "good practice"
    • a newsletter might work - would need an index to tempt the reader into the document
    • could run Skype meetings
    • email bulletins
    • summary of good practice
    • use the TN website
  • TN could set up a reference directory of which communities have particular strengths in specific areas
  • Post monthly update on TN blog
    • include detail of what didn't work
  • Need to expand the TN website to include:
    • food
    • transport
  • How about a TT manifesto book (little red book? - Ed)
  • Link up transition neighbours
  • 5 minute monthly bulletin by video on:
    • YouTube.com
    • MySpace.com
  • Transition trailer for use at cinemas and screenings
  • Face to face meetings would be great
  • Exchange visits so both stories get told
  • Set up a list of "experts" who are good at talking about best practice (or even "good practice")
  • The network needs to accommodate hubs (and webs - Ed) for both the geographical and topical (specialty) dimensions
  • These specialty hubs could be used for the reskilling and transferring knowledge, and also the capability of becoming a hub in that specialty
  • Experts can train experts
  • Use Wordpress blogs:
    • set one up for each specialty area
    • make sure that everyone's trained up to use it
    • get commitment that people will update it
    • make sure it can be viewed from the geographical and specialty angles so that eg, we can see "Food" activity across the whole network
  • Totnes will need to share its experience with the Totnes pound
  • Best practice involves a combination of:
    • good organisational models
    • good facilitation
    • the actual practical initiative